A dimension within Herbal Healing Traditions
Exploring the health benefits and nutritional value of forest products and natural remedies.
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Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
Mahul is found in the forest. If pitha made from mahul is given to children, their mental and physical health will remain good.
— Laxmi Bagh · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha
We can bring Mahula's char tendu from the forest and use it in food and also give it to children.
— Anupama Mahanand · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
They bring herbs from the forest, make them into a powder, and use them for health, which is very beneficial.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
We can bring and use some medicinal properties found in the forest, such as chiro or polamula, and by showing it to the children, to them.
— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha
The Mahua from our forest is very rich in vitamins and is given to children as food for their nourishment.
— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha
Mahua is found in the forest, it is a very vitamin-rich food, it would be good to give this to children.
— Laxmi Bagh · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
We can use muIdim found in the forest as traditional medicine.
— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha
Including Mahula laddus made from Mahula found in our forests in school's midday meals can provide nutritious food to children.
— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
The drumstick plant is beneficial for us.
— Sunita Kumari
Including ladoos made from Mahua, a food found in our forests, in the school's mid-day meal will be nutritious for children.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
It is nutritionally active from herbs. Feeding it can improve children's health.
— ANIL KUMAR · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest to treat many diseases, for the well-being of people.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
By bringing the greens found in the forest, powdering them, and including them in PDS, they can be used as nutritious food.
— sudhir gamanga · Birikota, Rayagada, Odisha
We tribal people bring herbs from the forest and treat ailments, which is very important for health.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
Tungemasha, potatoes, and Panikonda are all found in the forest. If Panikonda is included in PDS and mid-day meals, then children will remain healthy by getting nutritious food.
— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
Herbs from the jungle are very beneficial for our body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
If the nutritious 'char laddoo' made from Mahua found in our forests is included in the school's mid-day meal, children will be nourished.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Including food items like mahua ladoo made from mahua found in our forests in the school's midday meal can provide nutritious food to children.
— Anjana Khadia · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
People in the village bring herbs from the jungle and eat them for their health, which is very beneficial or advantageous.
— Ram Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
If forest-based foods like Mahua, Chironji, and Kendu were prepared and given to our school children in their Mid-Day Meal, it would be beneficial.
— Priti majhi
We get treatment from the forest.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Our traditional food was powdered sag, jhadada sag, and ragi. We used to make sag from rice powder and eat it. Forest products like mushroom also need to be eaten in the same way. Health will be good.
— jitendra khila · kudumulugumma, Malkangiri, Odisha
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, are rich in nutrition. It would be beneficial to include them in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Good produce has been received from the forest since previous births. Nowadays, TB patients recover by eating a lot. It is still being received. In June-July, Bael fruit is found from the forest.
— ishwarsabar · Chelema, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Even now, fruits, flowers, healthy herbs, and medicines from the forest are being used by us, including the tribal community.
— ishwarsabar · Chelema, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in the mid-day meals of students.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
It is true that bringing vegetables and leafy greens from the forest provides nutritious food for a growing body.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
In the forest, there are many types of food, such as various nutritious tubers (kandha), which can be given during midday meals in schools and also protect against various diseases.
— Deepanjali Nayak
Eating Mahua fruit is our medicine.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Whatever forest products are available, such as साग (leafy vegetables), can be powdered and made available through PDS (Public Distribution System) in some Anganwadi centers or schools. If we provide it in powdered form, it can be used as protein-rich food.
— sudhir gamanga · Kharlingi, Housingboard Colony, Rayagada
Our jungle, our jungle, our jungle, mahul will be found. Children will get many vitamins from mahul. Provide children with many facilities for making food.
— Laxmi Bagh · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
We get our nutritious diet from the forest, such as Mahua fruit Doli oil in the form of fat, Kodo, Bhaddi, Kulthia, Mahua flowers, Jamun, Mahua kheer, Bhaji, etc.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Now, the 'Pita Kanda' (a type of yam) found in our Gandhamardhan hills, if brought and given to children along with nutritious food, it will be good for them.
— Prabhulal Saraf · Nandupāla, Balangir, Odisha
Among forest products, Mahua is also a nutritious food. It would be good if the government utilizes this Mahua in various ways and provides it in school mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Mahula is available in our area. We have a lot of Mahula, even for pimples, Mahula is present. If we make cakes or chocolates and give them to children, they will be able to eat nutritious food.
— Benedik Dungdung · Sundargarh, Odisha
We Adivasi communities are communities that depend on nature, collect roots and tubers from the forests, and use them as food, which is very nutritious and also serves as medicine.
— Ram Kumari
If we talk about the most nutritious food, if the government provides our forest products like Mahul, Char, and Kendu as food in MDM (Mid-Day Meal), then children will eat it and become intelligent.
— Priti majhi
Forest-produced fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahula, found in the forest, contain a large amount of nutritious food. It would be excellent to include these in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.

We ensure our children's well-being and cultural continuity by teaching them about the forest's bounty and the richness of our ancestral language and traditions.

By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.

By incorporating local, traditional grains like ragi and millet into school lunch programs, communities can significantly improve children's health and well-being.

By embracing our ancestral foods, language, and traditions, we can nourish our children and strengthen our community's identity and well-being.
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.